Electrically-controlled valve for gas burners, etc.



Jan. 18,1927. 1,614,802

EL ROY 1 PAYNE ELECTRICALLY GONTROLLED VALVE FOR GAS BURNERS, ETC

Filed Sept. 29l 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y llllllllllll INVEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Jan. 18, 1927. 17,614,802

EL ROY L. PAYNE ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE FOR GAS BURNERS, ETC

Filed Sept. 29 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 18, 1927. p

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EL ROY L. PAYNE, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO PAYNE FURNACEAND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A

FORNIA.

CORPORATION OF CALI- ELECTRICALLY-CONTROLLED VALVE FOR GAS BURNERS, ETC.

Application filed September 29, 1924.- Serial No. 740,559.

, This invention relates to means for opery eral etected byelectromagnetically operated means. Since the valve parts are relativelyheavy, large electromagnets and the use of relatively high voltages arerequired. This is not only undesirable in itself but causes sparking atthe contact points in the circuit with the result that such contactpoints become oxidized or burn away and must be replaced from time totime.

In accordance with my invention the movement of the main valve iseffected by the pressure of the gas or other fluid which is beingcontrolled, and electromagnetically controlled means are provided forcontrol-A ling such pressure in such manner as to ei'ect operation ofthe main valve. This not only permits smaller electromagnets, smallerelectrical conductors, and lower volt.- ages to be used, but practicallyeliminates the sparking and consequent deterioration of the contactpoints.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for continuallymaintaining a small supply of gas for a pilot burner located adjacentthe main burner and for momentarily increasing the supply of gas to suchpilot burner at the time the supply of gas to the main burner is turnedon, in Vorder to cause a flashing up or increase in size of thepilot/flame so as to assist in and ensure lighting of The main burner.Furthermore, by means of such provision the pilot burner may be placedslightly below the Zone of the main flame, thus preventing deposition ofcarbon on the pilot burner which ordinarily occurs when it is locatedwithin the Zone of the flame from the main burner. This prevention ofcarbon deposition on or in the pilot burner is another object of theinvention. Other objects and advantages of my invention will appearhereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of my invention. andreferring thereto: i

F ig. 1 is a section on line 1-1 in Fi 2.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View ofthe electromagnetic control means and contactmeans therefor with the cover removed.

FFig. 4 is a partial section on line 4--4 in Fig. 5 is a wiring diagramof the electrical circuits. V

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a gas burner and pilot provided with theelectrically controlled valve, the cover of the latter being partlybroken away.

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical section on line 7-7 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits for a modifiedapplication of my invention.

The main valve comprises a easing preferably composed of two members 1and 2, one of said members being provided with annular recess 3 Aand theother with an annular shoulder 4 cooperating with said recess. Saidcasing members 1 and 2 are so formed as t0 provide-chambers 5 and 14above and below the valve member and within the casing when said membersare secured together for example by means of screws 6. The Valve properis adapted to be operated by fluid pressure and comprises suitablepressureresponsive means, for example, a flexible diaphragm 7 consistingof leather, fabric or other suitable material and a valve member 8preferably of metal attached thereto, for example by means of bolt andnut indicated at 9 and 10. A valve seat 11 is provided with which saidvalve member cooperates so as to shut ofi' communication between inletchamber 12 and chamber 14 below diaphragm 'l'.` Said valve. member 8 maybe provided if desired with suitable washers or gaskets 13 of felt,leather, orl other soft material adapted to form a tight joint. Saidinlet chamber 12 is threaded as at 15 to receive the gas or other fuelsupply pipe 16.

-A passage 17 leads from chamber 14 to outlet communication 18 which isthreaded as at 19 so as to receive the outlet pipe 2O leading forexample to the gas burner.

In order to operate the above described main valve I provide means forcontrolling 40 burner.

All v ESL the admission oit gas from the inlet pipe 16 to the chamber onthe upper side ot the pressure-responsive.means 7, said chamber `5serving as a pressure chamber for operation of the valve. Such means maycomprise for example a passage 22 formed in the casing members 1 and 2and communicating at one end with inlet chamber 12 and at its other endWith the valve port 23 in control valve 24 mounted in a cylindricalrecess 98 in the upper part of casing member l. When the parts are inthe position shown in Figs 2 and 4 said valve port 23 is incommunication through passage 25 and l@ valve port 26 in said controlvalve with a passage 27 leading to pressure chamber 5. 'lihe gas frominlet chamber 12 is thus .admitted to the upper: side of diaphragm 7 asWell as to the lower side of the valve mem- 2@ ber 8 and said valvemember is ythus kept in closed position due to the greater areasu'bjected,to pressure on the upper side and to the Weight oit the valvemember itself,

' Means are also provided for shuttin of i 95 the supply of gas to theupper side o the of valve member 8 due to the pressure existing only onthe lower side thereof. For this purpose control valve 24 is adapted tobe operated, for example by rotation on its vertical axis as hereinafterdescribed, so as to move port 23 out of register with passage 22, and tobring port 21, which alsocommunicats With passage 25, into register Withan outlet passage 34 leading to the outer air and preferably as shownthrough the pilot Suitable means, such as leaf spring 97, are providedfor holding control valve `24 tightly against the bottom of thecylindrical recess 98, so as to prevent leaka e of gas around saidvalve. As shown in igs.

45 6 and 7 outlet pipe 34 is preferably formed partly in each of thecasing members 1 and 2 and is provided at its outer end with a threadedportion 28 adapted to receive pipe 29 leadingto the pilot burner 30,said pilot u burner being of any suitable type and being preferablyprovided With a tip 31 of soap; stone or other material adapted toassist in maintaining a small flame of the desired shape and size.@utlet pipe 20 may lead from the valve means to a main burner 32 of anysuitable type, a mxing device 33 being preerabl provided for controllingthe admission o air to the gas going to said burner. The pilot burner 30is located adjacent and preferably slightly below the main burner 32.

I alsoy provide for maintaining a small supply of gas to the pilotburner 30 at all times, A tor example by means of a bypass comprisingsmal passages 35 and 36 communicatnei-ases a construction andarrangement ot parts as above described, the upper casing member l maybe removed, for example for inspection of the diaphragm valve, Withoutdisconnecting any of the gas inlet or outlet pipes, as these are allconnected to the lower casing member 2.

Electrically controlled means are provided for eilecting the operatingmovement of the control valve 24, such means comprfsing for examplev twoopposing electro-magnets 40 and 41, mounted on a hollow supporting core42, said core being in turn mounted on supports 43 on a top flange 51 ofthe casing member 1. Suitable operating means are provided for operationof the control valve upon energization of the electromagnets, suchmeans' comprising, for example, a plunger 44 slidably mounted Within thehollovv core 42 of the electromagnets and adapted to be moved in onedirection or the other Within said core upon enrgization of one or theother of said electromagnets. A projecting pin 45 may be connected tothe plunger 44 and project through a slot 46 in the bottom of core 42 soas to engage a recess or slot 47 in the lever arm 48. .Said lever armmay be mounted to rotate for example on a vertical stud or shaft 49mounted on the top flange 51 of casing member 1, and may be adapted tooperate control valve 24, for example, by means of an arm 52 rigidlyconnected to said control valve and provided at its outer end With anupturned portion 53 engaging in a groove or slot 54 in said lever arm48.

Any suitable electrical control means may be provided for energizing oneor the other of the electromagnets 40 and 4l in order to eiect openingand closing movement'ot the valve as hereinafter described. For examplein the form shovvn in Figs. 2, 3, and

6, l may provide electrical circuit means for the said electromagnets,including thermostatic contact means and circuit-breaking contact meansadapted to be operated upon the movement of the valve.- As shown in saidfigures. such means may comprise thermostat 57 mounted for example onsupport 58 and adapted to'move in response to variations in temperature,said thermostat being'located, for example, in a room which is to beheated directly or indirectly by the burner 32. Thermostat 57 may beprovided at its outer end vvith a contact member 59y having tvvo contactpoints 6() and 61 adapted to make contact respectively with Contactpoints 62 and 63 on contact members 64 and lil) 65. Said contactmembers- 64 and 65 are preferably adjustable so as to make contact atdifferent positions of the thermostat and may for example be adjustablymounted on a supporting arc 66 pivoted for example, at 67, said contactmembers being adapted t0 be secured to said arc 66 in any position bymeans of set-screws 68. In order to provide for further adjustment thesupporting arc 66 may itself be adapted to swing to any position aboutits pivot 67 and to be held in any desired position by set-screw 69.

From the contact ymember 59 a wire 70 leads to a suitable source ofcurrent for example to the secondary of a transformer whose primary isconnected to an ordinary lighting or other electrical circuit, or, asshown, to a battery 71, and from said source of current wires 72 and 73lead to a spring Contact member 74. Said contact member 74 is madepreferably of light flexible metal and at one end is tightly secured tothe shaft or stud 49 of the lever arm 48, said shaft being adapted toturn with said lever arm, said contact member engaging at its other endin a recess 7 6 in a fixed stud 77 mounted on the top flange 5l, in suchmanner as to cause said contact member 74 to be bowed in one directionorthe other, depending upon the position of lever arm 48. Contactmember`74 is provided with two contact points 78 and 79 adapted to makecontact respectively with contact points 81 and 82 on the contact arms83 and 84 mounted on fixed studs 85 and 86 on an insulating suppport 87mounted on the top flange 51. Suitable means, such as adjusting screws111 mounted on studs 112, 'may be provided for adjusting the position ofcontact arms 83 and 84. From thek contact -arm 83 wire 89 leads to oneend of the winding of electromagnet 41 and from the other end of saidwinding wires 90 and 91 lead to the contact member 64 of thethermostatic device. Similarly wires 93, 94 and 95 connect contactmember 84, electromagnet 40 and thev other contact member 65 vof thethermostat. rEhe arrangement is therefore such that the operatingcircuit of each electromagnet includes a pair of contact points of thethermostat and also a pair of contact points adapted to break suchcircuit upon ccmpletion of the movement of lever arm 48, resulting Yfromthe energization of said electromagnet. ln order to protect theelectromagnets and the Contact members and other parts mounted on thetop of the casing, a suitable removable cover 96 may be provided forsuch parts.

The operation of the above described form of my invention is as follows:Assuming that the parts are in the osition shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thegas trom inlet pipe i6 is admitted both above and below the diaphragmvalve, comprising diavice has been set to maintain a certain ftemperature, for example in a vroom heated by burner 32, such setting ofthe thermostat being eii'ected by proper. adjustment of supporting arc66 and contact members 64 and 65, then if the temperature in said roomshould fall below the desired point, thermostat 57 will move so as tocause contact point 60 to make contact with contact point 62. Anelectrical circuit will thus be established from the source of current71 through wire 70, contact points 60 and 62, wires 91 and 90,electromagnet 41, wire 89, contact points 81 and 78, and wires 73 and72, back to the source of current. Electromagnet 41 is thereby energizedand attracts the operating plunger 44, causing the same to move to theright in Fig. 2. In suchv movement of the plunger the projecting pin 45thereon engages lever arm 48 and causes it to swing to the positionindicated in dotted lines at 48 in Fig. 3. This movement of lever arm 48in turn operates control valve 24 through arm 52 and causes the same tomove so as to shut off communication between passages 22 and 27 and toopen communication from said passage 27 to the pilot burner. The supplyof gas to the upper side of diaphragm 7 is thus cut off and the pressureon said diaphragm is thereby relieved, permitting the valve controlledthereby to open and admit a full supply of gas through pipe 20 to themain burner 32. At the same time a portion of the gas contained inchamber 5 is forced out by the upward movement of diaphragm 7 and isdischarged through pipe 29 to the pilot 30 causing the pilot flame tomomentarily flare up, for example, as indicated in dotted lines at 100in Fig. 6. This momentary increase in the pilot flame constitutes oneadvantage of my invention as it ensures prompt lighting of the gas atthe main burner, while permitting the pilot burner to be located belowthe main burner and out of the Zone of the fiame produced by saidburner, so as to eliminate deposit-.ion of carbon on or in the pilotburner.

The above described operation of lever arm 48 not only causes operationof the valve but also causes contact member 74 to swing over to theposition indicated in dotted lines at 74 in Fig. 3, so as to breakconnection between contact points 78 and 81 and make connection betweenContact points 79 and Cil S2, opening the circuit-breaking means in thecircuit of the electromagnet causing operation and closing thecircuit-breaksuch ing means in the circuit of the other electromagnet.rlhe electrical circuit is thus brolien and a needless Consumption ofelectricity with consequent overheating of the electromagnets,conductors, and contact points is prevented. l'lhis automatic breakingof a contact in the operating circuitupon operation ot the valve is animportant advantage ot' my invention when used in connection withthermostatic control. 'llhe bowing ot contact springx la when inposition corresponding to either open or closed position ot the valve,causes it to positively complete its movement in either direction assoon as it is moved past dead center by one of the elcctromagnets, andalso serves to hold the control valve tirmly in either open or closedposition.

Another advantage ot my invention is that in case the pipe leading tothe. pilot burner should become clogged, thus causing the pilot 'flameto\ go out, as sometimes occurs, for example due to depositing /o sootor 'dirt therein, reopening of the main yvalve is prevented. The reasonfor this is that upon operation of the control valve the escape of gasfrom chamber 5 above'the diaphragm 7 is prevented due to the obstructionin its normal channel of escape to the pilot burner, and the main valve8 is thus held closed.

The main burner will continue to .burn until the room Which is beingheated has reached a temperature slightly in excess of the desiredtemperature, when the thermostat 57 Will move in the reverse directionand cause contact to be established between contact points 6l and 63. lnsubstantially the same manner as above described, electromagnet 4() Willthereby be'energized, which causes plunger 44 to be moved to the left inFig. 2, such movement of the plunger causing the control valve and theContact members to be returned to their original position. Upon suchreturn movement of the control valve communication from chamber 5 to thepilot burner is cut od and gas from inlet pipe 16 is again admitted tosaid chamber, causing the diaphragm valve to be returned to closedposition and to shut ed the supply of gas to the main burner.

rlhermostat 57 may be located at any point which is to be maintained ata certain temperature or the burner may be used in conjunction `avith anautomatic constanttemperature AWater heater in which case thermostat 57orother suitable thermostatic device would be ada ted to be heated bythe Water in said Water eater so as to maintain the same at a constanttemperature. 'lhe operation oi" the electrical control means and theopening and closing movements ot the valve "would in "l substantialscribed.

y ln some cases l may provide button or -other manual control t neelectrical control means instead olf thermostatic nets being connectedby Wire 108 to a source ot current "il from which a return Wir-e lll?)leads to vcontact member 105. peration of push button 104i will thencause energiaation of electromagnet al which will in turn cause openingot the main valve l together with the momentary daring up ot the pilotflame as above described. Uperation oi? push button 103 on the otherhand will close the main valve and cut od the supply of gas to the. mainburner 32..

` While l have described .and shown my invention only as applied tocontrol ot the gas supply for a burner, and While some of the abovedescribed advantages thereof may be realized only in such connection,itis evident that an electrically controlled valve of similarconstruction and operation may be used to turn` on-and oil' the supplyot any tluid, lor example liquid fuel, compressed air, Water, etc. lncases Where the iiuid under control is not used lfor combustion, nopilot flame is necessary and the means ier continually maintaining asmall residual suppl of the Huid may therefore be eliminate rlheessential feature of my invention, however, namely the operation of themain valve by the pressure-of the fluid itseli, and the control of suchHuid pressure by electrically controlled operation of a control valve,is applicable in any such case, and the abovedescribed advantageslthereof as regards smaller electromagnets, lighter electricalconductors,:- lower voltages, longer lite ot the contact points, etc.,may always be realized by such a combination;

. What l claim isi` l. lin combination With a gas burner provided vvitha pilot burner, a valve for controlling admission ofgas tofsaid gasburner and said 4pilot burner comprising a valve casing provided withinlet passage means and with. outlet passage means connected to saidburner, diaphragm valve means controlling communication between saidinlet and outlet passages and adapted to be openedV `by the pressure insaid inlet passage, a pressure chamber at the opposite side of saiddiaphragm valve from said inlet passage, means for conducting gas fromsaid inlet 'assage to said pressure chamber, means tor conducting gastroml said pressure lll@ chamber to said pilot burner, open passagemeans establishing communication at all times between said inlet passageand said pilot burner for maintaining a small ilame at said pilotburner, and auxiliary valve means Acontrolling communication betweensaid inlet passage and said pressure chamber and between said pressurechamber and said pilot burner in such manner that communication betweenthe pressure chamber and the pilot burner is established simultaneouslywith shutting ofi the communication between the inlet passage and thepressure chamber, thereby effecting release of pressure in said pressurechamber and permitting the opening movement of said diaphragm valve bythe pressure in said inlet passage to displace gas from said pressurechamber through said pilot burner and thus cause a momentary increase inthe flame at said pilot burner.

2. In combination with a gas burner provided with a pilot burner, avalve for controlling supply of gas thereto comprising a valve casingprovided with inlet and outlet passages, a diaphragm valve within saidvalve casing and exposed at one side to said inlet passage, a valve seatwith which said diaphragm valve cooperates to control communicationbetween said inlet and outlet passages, a pressure chamber at the otherside of said diaphragm valve, said diaphragm valve being adapted to beheld closed against said valve seat by pressure Iin said pressurechamber but to be opened by` pressure in said inlet passage upon releaseof pressure Jfrom said pressure chamber, means for conducting gas fromsaid outlet passage to said gas burner, by-pass means for continuallyconducting a small :amount of gas from said inlet passage to said pilotburner, means for conducting gas from said inlet passage tosaid pressurechamber, means for conducting gas from said pressure chamber to saidpilot burner, and control valve means adapted to simultaneously cut offcommunication between said inlet passage and said pressure chamber andestablish Comunication between said pressure chamber and the pilotburner.

3. In combination with a gasv burner provided with a pilot burner, anelectrically controlled valve comprising a casing provided with inletand outlet passages and with a valve seat and a valve cooperatingtherewith to control communication between said inlet and outletpassages, means for supf plying gas to said inlet passage, means for,conducting gas from said outlet passage to said gas burner, a diaphragmconnected to said valve for control thereof, a pressure chamber on oneside of said diaphragm, said diaphragm being adapted to operate so as toclose said valve upon admission of gas to said pressure chamber andbeing subject at its other side to the pressure in said inlet passage,whereby said valve is adapted to be opened upon the release of gas fromsaid pressure chamber, a control valve, means for conducting gas fromsaid inlet passage to said control valve, means for conducting gas fromsaid control valve to the pilot burner, said control valve being adaptedto control communication between said inlet passage and said pressurechamber, and between said pressure chamber and said pilot burner, andelectrically controlled means for operating said vcontrol valve.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3,

'and comprising in addition by-pass means communicating with said inletpassage and with the pilot burner and adapted to conduct a small amountof gas for maintaining a residual iiame at said pilot burnerindependently of the operation of the valve.

5. In combination with a gas burner, a valve for controlling admissionof gas thereto provided with an inlet passage and an outlet passage,diaphragm valve means controlling communication between said inlet andoutlet passages and adapted to be opened by the pressure in said inletpassage, a pressure chamber in such position that creation of pressuretherein acts upon said diaphragm valve to close the same against thepressure in the inlet passage, gas-supply means for supplying gas underpressure to said 'pressure chamber, gas-exit passage means forconducting gas from said pressure chamber to a point adjacent the gasburner, and auxiliary valve means adapted upon operation in onedirection to simultaneously open the gas supply passage means and closethe gas exit passage means, and upon motion in the other direction tosimultaneously close the gas supply passage means and open the gas-exitpassage means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day ofSeptember, 1924. c,

EL ROY L. PAYNE.

